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ADJUSTMENT OF JURISDICTION IN SAMOA

  • Convention signed at Washington December 2, 1899
  • Senate advice and consent to ratification January 16, 1900
  • Ratified by the President of the United States February 13, 1900
  • Ratifications exchanged at Washington, Berlin, and London February 16, 1900
  • Proclaimed by the President of the United States February 16, 1900
  • Entered into force February 16, 1900
  • Termination in part: The German Samoan islands became a mandate of New Zealand on May 7, 1919,[1] Germany having renounced
rights and titles to them, effective August 4, 1914 (arts. 22, 119, and 288, treaty of peace with Germany signed at Versailles June 28, 1919[2])
31 Stat. 1878; Treaty Series 314

The President of the United States of America, His Imperial Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, and Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, desiring to adjust amicably the questions which have arisen between them in respect to the Samoan group of Islands, as well as to avoid all future misunderstanding in respect to their joint or several rights and claims of possession or jurisdiction therein, have agreed to establish and regulate the same by aspecial convention; and whereas the Governments of Germany and Great Britain have, with the concurrence of that of the United States, made an agreement regarding their respective rights and interests in the aforesaid group, the three Powers before named in furtherance of the ends above mentioned have appointed respectively their Plenipotentiaries as follows:

The President of the United States of America, The Honorable John Hay, Secretary of State of the United States;

His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, His Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Herr von Holleben; and

Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, the Right Honorable Lord Pauncefote of Preston, G. C. B., G.C.M.G., Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary:


  1. Subsequently these islands were administered by New Zealand, first under a League of Nations mandate, then as a United Nations Trust Territory. On Jan. 1, 1962, Western Samoa acquired the status of an independent state.
  2. Post, vol. 2.
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